school daze

Back to school...back to school, my goodness the day has finally come. I'm really looking forward to it though....hope I'm up to the task. First unit is on textiles....perfect!!

You may have seen the new heading ...Holly's Handmade Buttons & Beads. This is an exciting little development that I am really pleased to promote. Holly is making licorice allsort buttons as I write, and my brain is going into overload deciding on a suitable project to showcase them on. She is always making something and particularly enjoys making small objects from polymer clay. The detail is amazing as well as the enthusiasim....just may not be able to pay the gas bill after all the firings. Can't stifle creativity though!

I am well underway with the Christmas wall hanging , using the 'Peace on Earth' range from Moda is a joy, the fabrics are so beautiful and the Charm pack is a great way to try them all. I don't have to cut my squares...all done for me. I'm working on the applique at present and will post a picture as soon as I can photograph it in good light.

First day of Spring in the morning here. The birds have been exceptionally active as one could expect. Even saw a small one building a nest ( or tending it) above the main entry door of our local shopping complex....right above the large 'C' for Centro. Pipi (cat) has also decided she would rather be outside 'to play', I wonder why! The weather is lovely too! (sorry Stephanie).

I have just finished packaging a really big order for Bohdana in Prague. She is starting up a Doll Club to introduce and encourage doll making in her country and I have had the pleasure of helping her in this endeavour. Pretty exciting stuff!

Well, I guess I should get a good night's sleep, it's been 1 am the last few nights getting patterns sorted, but everything that needs to be done is done....... maybe a little reading before shut eye.

Love to be able to show you a photo of my garden in full 'spring' mode, but it hasn't recovered, as yet, from the construction of the garage and all the big feet. So, I thought I'd show you the plum pudding that will be on 'special' for September. Hopefully I'll have the price changed on the website soon. It's a cutie and non fattening!

Deb

Smell the Roses

A timely reminder. Saw this on the internet and thought..... perfect! I had a new delivery of fabric arrive today from Sandi at Crafty Lady.

The ' Peace on Earth' & ' Posh' range from Moda are absolutely beautiful and beg to be made into something special. The ' Peace on Earth ' Charm pack is definitely destined for a Christmas inspired small wall quilt.

Wow ! more spots, there's some yummy ones inside the bundle too.

Thank you to all who have joined the Xmas Club, I'm going to be very busy I can see, but I so enjoy doing it.

Till next post,

Deb

ps. I'm going to unwrap the bundles now.....they look so neat in their little blocks, but I just have to lay them out to see them in all their glory before I call it a night.

Getting closer

How many sleeps to Christmas? Not many & not enough somehow, considering I leave everything to the last moment.

I have gotten this year's Xmas Club up & running though & the three angel projects are finished, photographed, displayed on my wall and info where it should be.

Angels always make me smile so I can never have too many.

I've added the embroidery on her skirt and tacking around the heart. Then to writing up the pattern etc. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've decided to supply these projects as complete kits so that you can get in and make them ( no excuse for UFO's).

I will have some interesting news regarding classes in doll making featuring my patterns overseas soon. It's an exciting new development and will help to spread the enjoyment of doll making in areas that are new to this craft. Best wishes to B in this endeavour.

Another fishing weekend coming up for the boys...ahhhh! the peace & quiet!

Back to work and perhaps a hot mug of soup....ahhhh! soup!

Happy sewing

Deb

Thank You - gift

Hi Everyone,

The last of the Doll Club patterns for 2008 is on it's way to you as I write. Mixed emotions here; a tinge of sadness akin to sending your young out into the world; and also satisfaction & relief that it is complete for another year.

As a BIG thank you to all my wonderful Club members I made up a quick Christmas Santa pattern for you & have included a free ceramic button to complete the project. There is a small black & white photo of santa finished in the pack but he is shown here in colour so that you can refer to it also for a guide. As it was a last minute 'bright' idea, any clarification needed re: instructions happily given via email too. Should be fine though!

Stocking Santa is about 10-11 inches tall to tip of hat. You could sew a rusty bell to the tip or reduce the pattern (photocopier) and make a tiny one. I also forgot to mention in the materials required list that you will need some sand or something similar to weight the bottom. I had the buttons specially made and they are quite cute.

Information should be ready to pop on the website today for the Xmas Club. Looking forward to that. I will have completed photos to show also on the BLOG.

Wishing you a lovely day

Deb

ps. Stephanie Smith of Qld is the winner of the Doll Club $25.00 gift voucher...Congratulations Stephanie !

Renewal

Hi everyone,

Spring has Sprung... almost. You can feel it in the air and all things are in a state of renewal.

Right at this minute though, I have the last project for this year's Doll Club to show - here's Daisy.....she's sooo cute!

I've incorporated a technique called raw edge applique, and it is exactly that. Fun to do because it's quick, yet effective. The daisy petals are made from a light white cotton allowing shadows of the dress fabric to show through, this gives a lovely light, 'washy' effect.

Frills, plenty of detail & lots of fun. I'll be sending them all out by Monday so all Doll Club members will be receiving their copy of Daisy shortly.

Sadly, Xmas Club this year may be the last Doll Club for a little while, only temporarily though, as I will be studying and need to get settled into a regular routine. So unlike previous years I won't be starting off 2009 with the Doll Club. This new chapter is something I've wanted to do for quite a while and I guess all things in their own time. I will still be designing just as much as before and there will be plenty of new projects in the Wattlebee shop as well as regular Newsletters and this Blog. I'll be working just as hard so please keep popping in to see what's on offer.

Happy sewing and follow your dreams

Deb

Red

Hi Everyone,

I've been madly trying to catch up and finally have something to share. I've titled her 'Red' for obvious reasons, and after all, nothing evokes Christmas like the colour red.

I had so much fun playing around with this one as I love being able to use up scraps of fabric, and quite honestly you never really know what you end up with when using scraps. You can make her over & over & she will always be different. I love the cute little stocking and you could dress her up further for the season with a candy cane popped in the stocking.

All three Xmas Club dolls are ready now....here's a glimpse of the other one.

She's not quite finished in this photo, but you can get an idea of the end result.

Just have to organise the info for you all and have it up on the website......sounds like a job for the Exhibition holidays coming up this week. As I have mentioned before I really appreciate any school holiday and these two lovely days will come in handy.

Well back to work...and there's lots of it! If I'm good I may get to watch a little of the Olympic coverage tonight.

Happy sewing

Deb

Paradise

Greetings from Paradise,

Well it seemed that way on the weekend. We had a lovely, much needed, 3 days away at Rainbow Beach (think Fraser Island) and the weather didn't let us down.

Just had to take a photo of the camels. They are a quirky attraction and are often seen taking passengers for a tour along the beach. Haven't done that yet myself...they are a long way up!

I went for a good walk, picked over shells and tip toed at the edge of the crystal clear water...such a treat and I made sure I took some close-up shots of some shells ( one of them is my new screen saver).

This is over from the shops on the headland, looking out at the water...Fraser Is is to the left of the picture just out of view.

Back to work now, I have the last Doll Club project to photograph, another doll for Australian Country Threads, three Xmas Club dolls to complete and lots more goodies to come.

Take care & I hope you have your slice of paradise too!

Deb